Miniaturized priming chain

ABSTRACT

A modular miniaturized priming chain has a detonator and a priming booster assembly. The priming booster assembly includes a first priming booster and a second priming booster which can be modularly combined together depending on the respective power requirement at an output of the priming chain, or only the first priming booster is combined with the detonator, which is a miniature detonator.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority, under 35 U.S.C. § 119, of German patent application DE 10 2008 008 937.0, filed Feb. 13, 2008; the prior application is herewith incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The invention lies in the munitions field. More specifically, the invention pertains to a miniaturized priming chain.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a miniaturized priming chain which can be varied according to the respective required power at the output of the priming chain and/or the permissible fuze screw-in length in the respective projectile (in accordance with STANAG).

With the above and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a miniaturized priming chain, comprising:

a detonator; and

a priming booster assembly having a first priming booster and a second priming booster;

wherein said first priming booster and said second priming booster are modularly combinable together depending on a respective power requirement at an output of the priming chain.

In other words, the priming booster assembly of the priming chain according to the invention has a first priming booster and a second priming booster which can be modularly combined depending on the respective power requirement at the output of the priming chain. Accordingly, when a low level of power requirements is involved only the first priming booster of the priming booster assembly is combined with the detonator, formed by a miniature detonator, of the priming chain. Preferred developments and configurations of the modular miniaturized priming chain according to the invention are described in the following.

The modular miniaturized priming chain according to the invention has the advantage that it is possible for example to reduce the explosive-force priming booster output for HE-munition to a priming booster output for firing transfer primer charges of a cargo munition, by removal of the second booster stage, that is to say the second priming booster. At the same time that provides for adaptation of the fuze screw-in length into the respective projectile. It is thus advantageously possible for example for a proximity fuze/multi-function fuze to be adapted to use as a time fuze by unscrewing or removing the second booster stage.

The modularity is implemented in such a way that the booster stages involved are accommodated in receiving means which can be modularly connected in positively locking relationship, force-locking relationship or by a connection involving intimate joining of the materials concerned. The receiving means can also be identical or unitary with the respective booster housing. In that respect it can be provided that a priming booster is screwed or glued into a screw-in ring. That screw-in ring can then be screwed on to a screw thread of a receiving means or a housing of the preceding booster stage.

Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.

Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a miniaturized priming chain, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.

The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section, on a relatively large scale, of a configuration of the modular miniaturized priming chain;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section on an enlarged scale of a configuration of the miniature detonator of the priming chain of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section of a configuration of an insensitive first booster, that is to say a first priming booster, which forms a second stage of the modular miniaturized priming chain, the first stage of which is formed by the miniature detonator as shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section of a second booster stage, that is to say a second priming booster, shown spaced from the first booster of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section of the boosters, that is to say the first and second priming booster, of FIGS. 3 and 4 which are combined together as in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the figures of the drawing in detail and first, in particular, to FIG. 1 thereof, there is shown a configuration of the modular miniaturized priming chain with a miniature detonator 10 and an associated priming chain 12. Further details of the miniature detonator 10 and the priming chain 12 emerge from the following description of FIGS. 2 to 5.

FIG. 2 shows a view on an enlarged scale of a miniature detonator 10 provided for detonation transfer on to a priming chain 12. As can be seen from FIG. 2 the miniature detonator 10 has a charge 14 of small mass of for example 10 to 20 mg. The charge 14 is provided for directed generation of its power emanating from a central initiation location 16, towards a detonator base 18. The detonator base 18 is of a concavely indented configuration for transformation into a flat disc (flyer) 20 moving at high speed. The flyer 20 is indicated in thin broken lines at a small axial spacing from the miniature detonator 10 in FIG. 2.

The charge 14 of the miniature detonator 10 has a primary charge 22 and a secondary charge 24 adjoining same. The primary charge 22 is disposed in a centering element 26. The secondary charge 24 adjoins the concavely indented detonator base 18.

The miniature detonator 10 has an electrical bridge element 28 for initiation of the primary charge 22. The electrical bridge element 28 is provided on an electrically insulating bottom closure element 30 of the miniature detonator 10. Connecting elements 32 which are contacted with the electrical bridge element 28 extend at a spacing from each other out of the electrically insulating bottom closure element 30.

The electrically insulating bottom closure element 30 has a peripheral sleeve 34 which surrounds the bottom closure element 30.

The centering element 26 is mounted to an extension sleeve 36. In the embodiment of the miniature detonator 10 shown in FIG. 2, there is provided a compensating sleeve 38 between the extension sleeve 36 of the centering element 26 and the peripheral sleeve 34 of the electrically insulating bottom closure element 30.

The concavely indented detonator bottom 18 is formed integrally in respect of the material involved with a peripheral detonator casing 40. The detonator casing 40, the extension sleeve 36 of the centering element 26, the compensating sleeve 38 between the extension sleeve 36 and the peripheral sleeve 34 of the bottom closure element 30 and the peripheral sleeve 34 are sealingly welded together at the connecting side that is remote from the concavely indented detonator base 18. That sealed weld is identified by reference 42.

The miniature detonator 10 shown in FIG. 2 forms a first stage of the miniaturized modular priming chain, the second stage of which is formed by an insensitive first booster 54 or a first priming booster (see FIGS. 3 and 5). The insensitive first booster 54 has an entry diameter adapted to the exit diameter of the miniature detonator 10. The first booster 54 has an insensitive explosive booster charge 56 provided in a receiving space 58, which enlarges in a funnel shape, of a first booster housing 60. The receiving space 58 which is enlarged in a funnel shape in the first booster housing 60 is closed on the side towards the miniature detonator by a closure element 62 and on the other side remote therefrom by a closure element 64 (see FIGS. 3 and 5).

The insensitive first booster 54 is or can be combined with a second booster stage 66 which in FIG. 4 is axially spaced from the first booster 54 as shown in FIG. 3 and is shown in FIG. 5 combined with the first booster 54.

The two booster stages can be arranged in spaced relationship in the fuze in dependence on the structural factors involved.

The second booster stage 66 has an associated second booster housing 68 which has a receiving space 70 which is also enlarged in a funnel-like shape. An explosive booster charge 72 is provided in the receiving space 70. The receiving space 70 of the second booster housing 68 of the second booster stage 66 is closed at the side towards the first booster 54 (see FIG. 3) by means of a closure element 74 and on the second side remote therefrom by a closure element 76.

The closure element 64 of the first booster 54 can be of a concavely indented configuration to form a flyer. That is indicated in FIG. 3 by an arcuate broken line 78. Likewise it is possible for the closure element 76 of the second booster stage 66 to be of a concavely indented configuration to form a flyer. That is indicated in FIG. 4 by the broken line 80.

As already mentioned the Figures illustrate a miniaturized modular priming chain in which the first booster 54, that is to say the first priming booster, and the second booster stage 66, that is to say the second priming booster, respectively form independent components which are or can be arranged in mutually adjoining relationship. For that purpose it is possible for them to be connected together in positively locking relationship, force-locking relationship or by a connection involving intimate joining of the materials concerned. In that respect easily releasable connections are to be preferred as simpler faster adaptation to the purpose of use is thereby often possible. Specifically screw connections are considered as they afford sufficient stability or guidance, such as for example by way of a suitable screwthread or bore in conjunction with a fixing ring, but in that respect they can also be easily released again. It is however also possible to have recourse to clamping connections, rivet connections, claw coupling configurations, adhesive layers and the like.

The miniature detonator 10 can be for example of a diameter of 2.5 mm and an axial lengthwise dimension of 3.5 mm. It will be appreciated that other dimensions are also possible.

The explosive booster charge of the miniature detonator is for example 10 to 20 mg without being restricted thereto. 

1. A miniaturized priming chain, comprising: a detonator; and a priming booster assembly having a first priming booster and a second priming booster; wherein said first priming booster and said second priming booster are modularly combinable together depending on a respective power requirement at an output of the priming chain.
 2. The priming chain according to claim 1, wherein said detonator is a miniature detonator having a charge of a small mass and said detonator is configured for a directed generation of a power thereof emanating from a central initiation location towards a detonator base, and said detonator base has a concavely indented configuration for transformation into a flat disc flyer of high speed.
 3. The priming chain according to claim 2, wherein said charge comprises a primary charge and a secondary charge adjoining said primary charge, wherein said primary charge is disposed in a centering element of said miniature detonator and said secondary charge adjoins said concavely indented detonator base.
 4. The priming chain according to claim 3, which further comprises an electrical bridge element for initiating the primary charge.
 5. The priming chain according to claim 4, wherein said electrical bridge element is disposed on an electrically insulating bottom closure element of said miniature detonator, and wherein connecting elements contacted with said bridge element extend out of said bottom closure element.
 6. The priming chain according to claim 5, wherein said electrically insulating bottom closure element includes a peripheral sleeve.
 7. The priming chain according to claim 3, wherein said centering element is mounted to an extension sleeve.
 8. The priming chain according to claim 7, wherein said electrically insulating bottom closure element includes a peripheral sleeve, and a compensating sleeve disposed between said peripheral sleeve and said extension sleeve of said centering element.
 9. The priming chain according to claim 2, which further comprises a detonator peripheral casing, and wherein said concavely indented detonator base is formed integrally with a material said detonator peripheral casing.
 10. The priming chain according to claim 9, wherein said detonator peripheral casing, an extension sleeve of a centering element, a compensating sleeve and a peripheral sleeve of an electrically insulating bottom closure element are sealingly welded together at a connecting side remote from said concavely indented detonator base.
 11. The priming chain according to claim 2, wherein said miniature detonator forms a first stage of a miniature priming chain, and the miniature priming chain has second stage formed by an insensitive first booster.
 12. The priming chain according to claim 11, wherein said insensitive first booster has an entry diameter adapted to an exit diameter of said miniature detonator.
 13. The priming chain according to claim 11, which comprises a first booster housing formed with a receiving space opening in a funnel shape, and wherein said first booster has an insensitive explosive charge in said receiving space of said first booster housing.
 14. The priming chain according to claim 13, wherein said insensitive first booster is or can be combined with a second booster stage that also enlarges in a funnel shape.
 15. The priming chain according to claim 14, wherein said second booster stage is disposed in an associated second booster housing adjoining said first booster housing.
 16. The priming chain according to claim 15, wherein said second booster housing is formed with a concavely indented base configured to produce a flyer.
 17. The priming chain according to claim 13, wherein said first booster housing is formed with a concavely indented base configured to produce a flyer. 